from The Exile

            I was surprised by the building in the suburbs, sitting in a quiet area by the river. It looked like a chalet you’d see in European forests. I stood in front of it for a while, wonderful aromas stealing into my nose, and there was a gentle tune, though it was a bit fast. A very handsome, well-dressed young man appeared and bowed, whispering politely to me,

—Come on in, sir.

I walked down a clear, marble entryway and up a few steps. Inside, I found beautiful girls who smiled and bowed gently to me and lead me to a seat right across from the river. I noticed that most of them were wearing the same uniform, the red badge of the place hanging on their chest, while they walked between tables gracefully, spreading their comfortable smiles.

I realized the place was a fancy restaurant, casino and nightclub all at the same time, and it was very wide inside, the opposite of how it appeared on the outside. The smell got stronger and the tunes came from a big speaker, clear and deep. I glanced to the back and saw my face in the mirror, clearer than I’d ever seen it before. I also saw a beautiful woman not far from me, her nose buried in a napkin. I imagined that she pointed to me with the tip of her finger— I turned my back to her and saw a strange looking, hairy dog lying beneath her feet, lifting its head from time to time to catch some food that had been thrown at it by a man sitting in front of her.

I became occupied with one of the girls, the one who came and placed a menu in front of me. It was written in shiny, strange letters I totally ignored. I pointed in confusion to the first item on the menu, then the second, and then my finger unintentionally slid to the third. The girl left me, a surprised look in her eyes. A few minutes later, my table was filled with empty plates and napkins which I found, when I anxiously unrolled them, held very shiny utensils.

Unwillingly, I glanced at the woman that I saw in the mirror. I found her still hiding her nose in the napkin. She looked at me, her eyes holding a mysterious expression I could not understand.

I was shocked when her companion turned with a deep look, studying me. The woman sneezed and coughed loudly and shook her head uncomfortably. He rushed and bent over her worriedly when I realized, suddenly, that the clean-cut faces all stopped eating and whispering and laughing to stare at the woman with pity in their eyes. They also gave me that same mysterious look she had given me. My heartbeat accelerated, and drops of sweat spread all over my body. I turned to the mirror and stared at my face and clothes, and I couldn’t find anything strange that would make them so curious. I sat up straight, huge question marks written on my face. I was surprised by another woman pointing toward me with disgust while she ran to the restroom, whispering:

—Unbelievable. Unbelievable….